PAPERS 


OF THE 


PEABODY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY 
AND ETHNOLOGY, HARVARD UNIVERSITY 





Vou. XI, No. 2 


OFFICIAL REPORTS 


ON THE TOWNS OF 


TEQUIZISTLAN, TEPECHPAN, ACOLMAN, AND SAN JUAN 
TEOTIHUACAN SENT BY FRANCISCO DE CASTANEDA 
TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP II, AND THE COUNCIL 
OF THE INDIES, IN 1580 


TRANSLATED AND EDITED, WITH AN 
INTRODUCTION AND NOTES 


BY 


ZELIA NUTTALL 


TWO PLATES AND TWO TEXT FIGURES 


CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A. 
PUBLISHED BY THE MUSEUM 
1926 





PAPERS 


OF THE 


PEABODY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ARCHAEOLOGY 
AND ETHNOLOGY, HARVARD UNIVERSITY 


Votruxl; NO; 2 


OFFICIAL REPORTS 


ON THE TOWNS OF 


TEQUIZISTLAN, TEPECHPAN, ACOLMAN, AND SAN JUAN 
TEOTIHUACAN SENT BY FRANCISCO DE CASTANEDA 
TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP I, AND THE COUNCIL 
OF THE INDIES, IN 1580 


TRANSLATED AND EDITED, WITH AN 
INTRODUCTION AND NOTES 


BY 


ZELIA NUTTALL 


TWO PLATES AND TWO TEXT FIGURES 


CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, U.S.A. 
PUBLISHED BY THE MUSEUM 
1926 





COPYRIGHT, 1926 


BY THE PEABODY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ARC 





AND ETHNOLOGY, HARVARD UNIVERSITY 


PRINTED AT THE HARVARD UNIVERSITY 


CAMBRIDGE, MASS., U.S. A. 





NOTE 


THE remarkable acumen of the Spanish authorities in send- 
ing out a questionnaire to many of the settlements through- 
out the Spanish domain in America is amply justified by the 
wealth of material collected by this means. The replies to 
this list of questions returned by the various towns are all 
important but special interest centers on that sent by San 
Juan Teotihuacan on account of the famous ruins at that 
site. 

Mrs. Nuttall early discovered the great importance of this 
manuscript and has kindly translated it for the present 
paper. 

The Museum is greatly indebted to Clarence L. Hay, 
Ksar., for its publication. 


CHARLES C. WILLOUGHBY, Director. 


CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, 
February 8, 1926. 








LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


PLATES 


PuatTE 1. Map or TEQUIZISTLAN, TEPECHPAN, ACOLMAN, AND 
San JUAN TEOTIHUACAN 


PuatTe 2. A Part oF THE Map By ALONSO DE SANTA Cruz (circa 
1570) 


FIGURES 


meme TACH-NAMES OF Tmxcoco ......... 2... 49 


Meese iACh-NAME OF ACOLMAN ..... 1... « 64 





INTRODUCTION 


In 1900, Sefior Don Pedro Torres Lanzas, the distinguished Direc- 
tor of the Archivo de Indias in Seville, in Volume I of his valuable 
Inventory of the Plans and Maps contained in the Archives, 
published the title of the ‘‘ Map of the towns of Acolman, San Juan 
Teotihuacan, ‘Tequizistlan and adjoining towns by the Corregidor 
Don Francisco de Castafieda, accompanied by a descriptive 
Relacion [dated 1580], of each of said towns, made in compliance 
with His Majesty’s Instructions.” ! 

Separated from its Relacién for years, the Map was, and still 
may be, exhibited in one of the treasure filled show-cases of the 
Archivo. It thus came about that, in 1911, on registering the 
contents of a ‘“‘Legajo”’ attractively labelled ‘‘Indiferente Gen- 
eral,’ I came across the Relacién by mere chance, and after read- 
ing it with intense interest, copied it forthwith, as a document of 
utmost importance that should be generally known. 

I had not seen the Torres Lanzas Inventory and was unaware 
at the time that, in 1905, Sefior Francisco del Paso y Troncoso had 
actually published the Relacién with the Map, in Volume VI of 
his ‘‘Papeles de Nueva Espafia,”’ etc.;? for this, like others of his 
important and valuable publications, was and is, unfortunately, 
practically unobtainable and inaccessible to students. 

In the monumental work on the ‘‘ Population of the Valley of 
Teotihuacan,”’ recently issued by Sefior Manuel Gamio,’ the Map 
is reproduced, but the Relacién, while referred to, is not described 

1 See “‘ Relacion descriptiva de los Mapas, planos, etc., de Mexico y Floridas existentes en 
el Archivo General de Indias, por Pedro Torres Lanzas.”’ Sevilla, 1900. TomolI,p. 26. This 
document is registered in the Archivo General de Indias, Sevilla, as follows: Indiferente Gen- 
eral — Descripciones poblaciones y derroteras de viajes. Nueva Espafia. Afios 1521-1818. 
Estante 145 — Cajén 7 — Legajo 6. 

The text of the questionnaire is translated from the ‘‘ Memoria”’ published in ‘‘ Relaciones 
de Yucatan.’ Colecciédn de Documentos Inéditos . . . publicada por la Real Academia de 
la Historia, Segunda Serie, Tomo XI. 

2 ‘*Papeles de Nueva Espaiia publicados de orden y con fondos del Gobierno Mexicana. 
Segunda Serie. Geografia y Estadistica. Tomo VI. Relaciones Geogrdficas de la Diocesis de 
Mexico. Manuscritos de la Real Academia de la Historia de Madrid y del Archivo de Indias en 
Sevilla. Afios 1579-1582.” Madrid, 1905. Text, pp. 209-230. 

3 ‘*La Poblacidn del Valle de Teotihuacan.’”’ Secretaria de Agricultura y Fomento. Direc- 


ciédn de Antropologia. Mexico, 1922. 
45 


46 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


as a source of invaluable and authentic information, nor is it de- 
servedly utilized and recorded. 

It therefore seems opportune that a publication be made, in 
English, and in eatenso, of the Relacién, for the benefit of Ameri- 
canists. This document is one of the many that were drawn up 
and sent from Mexico to Spain in obedience to a remarkable decree, 
dated May 25, 1577, issued by King Philip II and distributed 
broadcast throughout his New World possessions. This decree 
reads: 


‘Instructions and memorandum for the drawing up of the re- 
ports which are to be made for the ‘ Description of the Indies’ His 
Majesty is having made, to facilitate the good government and 
ennoblement of the same. . 

‘Firstly: The governors, corregidors, or mayors to whom the 
Viceroys or Audiences or other government officials and adminis- 
trators send these printed instructions and memorandum are first 
of all to make a list and memorial of the towns inhabited by 
Spaniards or by Indians within their jurisdictions, in which only 
the names of these towns are to be entered, written clearly and 
legibly. This is to be immediately sent to said government offi- 
cials so that it can be returned to His Majesty and the Council of 
the Indies jointly with the reports drawn up in each town. 

“Said printed instructions and memorandum are to be dis- 
tributed throughout all towns of Spaniards and Indians in each 
jurisdiction in which there are Spaniards, sending them to the 
Councils, or, if these are lacking, to the parish priests or to the 
monks in charge of religious instruction, with direct orders to 
the councils or a recommendation from His Majesty to the priests 
and monks, that within a short time they answer and fulfil their 
obligations. 

“The reports made are to be sent to the above officials, with 
the printed instructions, so that, as they go on receiving them they 
can redistribute them to other towns to which none have been 
previously sent. 

‘“‘In the towns and cities where the governors or mayors or 
other officials reside, these are either to write the reports accord- 
ing to the instructions, or to have this done by persons with a 
knowledge of the affairs of the country. The persons charged 
with the drawing up of the report of each town are to give answers 


TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP II 47 


to the questions in the memorandum and observe the following 
order and form. 

“Firstly: On a separate sheet, as a superscription to their re- 
port, they are to write the day, month and year dates, with the 
name of the person or persons who participated in making it; also 
the name of the governor or other person who sent them the said 
instructions. 

“After carefully reading each paragraph of the memorandum, 
they are to write down separately what they have to say, answer- 
ing each one of the questions it contains, one after the other. 
Those questions to which they have nothing to answer are to be 
omitted without comment, passing on to those that follow, until 
all are read. The answers given are to be short and clear. What 
is certain is to be given as such, what is not is to be recorded as 
doubtful, so that the reports may be exact and in strict conformity 
to the instructions and memorandum.” 


The latter consists of a series of most carefully formulated, 
penetrating and comprehensive inquiries, and constitutes a 
‘‘questionnaire’’ so remarkable for its acumen that I have adopted 
the plan of presenting the questions in the order established by the 
royal questionnaire and, after each one, in succession, the answers 
to it sent in from the four towns. 

The combined evidence is thus presented in a concentrated and 
more interesting form, that will facilitate the survey and study 
of the fresh data presented concerning one of the most important 
archaeological regions in America. 

The Relacién was supplemented by the interesting map that is 
reproduced as Plate 1. The reproduction in Plate 2 is from a 
photograph of the same district containing the four towns, as 
represented in the famous map of Mexico and its surroundings 
made by the cosmographer of King Philip II, Alonso de Santa 
Cruz, about 1570. | 

As the main purpose of this publication is that of placing the 
valuable record within the reach of students, I have confined my- 
self in my notes to drawing attention to certain important points 
and elucidating a few statements that are obscure or misleading. 

Descriptions of the towns of Tequizistlan, Tepechpan, Acolman, 
and San Juan Teotihuacan, and their dependencies, were composed 
by the illustrious Sefior Francisco de Castafieda, the Corregidor of 


48 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


said towns, for His Majesty, in obedience to the royal instructions 
transmitted to him by the illustrious Sefior Gordian Cassasano, 
accountant and administrator of the Royal Revenue of this New 
Spain. 

The description of each town is signed by those persons present 
who could sign. 

A list of said towns and those subordinate to them accompanies 
each description. | 

The towns included in the circuit and jurisdiction of Tequizistlan 
are as follows: 

Firstly: Tequizistlan, chief town, with its subordinates Totol- 
zingo and Acaltecoya. 

Secondly: Tepechpan, chief town, with its subordinates San 
Miguel Atlanmaxac, Santiago Saqualuca, Santa Ana Tlachahualco, 
San Francisco Temazcalapa, San Matheo Teopancalca, San Pedro 
Tulamiguacan, San Xriptoual Culhuacazingo, Santa Maria Maquix- 
co, Sant Jhoan Tlacalco, San Bartolome Atocpan, San Xeronimo 
Chiapa, Santa Maria Suchitepec, its subordinates, and San Juan 
Cuyoa. 

Thirdly: Acolman, the capital, with its subordinates Santiago 
Atla, San Miguel Jumetla, San Agustin Tonala, los Tres Reyes 
Yzquitlan, Santa Maria Chiapa, San Matheo Tuchatlauco, San 
Lucas Tlamazingo, San Juan Tepehuizco, Santiago Nopaltepec, 
San Juan Tlaxinca, San Martin Huiznahuac, San Felipe Sacatepec, 
San Tomas Atlauco, San Matheo Tezcacohuac, Santa Maria 
Atenpa, San Marcos Quacyocan, San Pedro Tepetitlan, San Antonio 
Huiztonco, Santa Maria Tlatecpa, San Bartolome Quauhtla- 
pecco, San Juan Chicnahuatecapa, San Martin Aticpac, San 
Niculas Tenextlacotla, Santa Maria Astatonacazco, Santa Maria 
Atenpa, Santa Maria Saguala, and San Juan Atlatongo. 

Fourthly: San Juan Teotihuacan, with its subordinates San 
Lorengo Atezcapa, San Miguel Tlotezcac, San Matheo Tenango, 
San Sebastian Chimalpan, Santa Maria Coatlan, San Francisco 
Magatlan, San Martin Teacal, San Pedro Tlaxican, Santiago Tol- 
man, Sant Andres Oztocpachocan, Los Reyes Aticpac, San Antonio 
Tlaxomolco, San Agustin Ohuayocan, San Pedro Ocotitlan, San 
Miguel Tlaguac, San Luis Xiuhquemecan and Juan Tlaylotlacan. 


TO HIS MAJESTY: PHILIP IT 49 


THE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS THERETO 
QUESTION I 


In the towns with Spanish inhabitants the name of the district 
or province is to be stated, also the meaning of the name and the 
reason it is so named. 

‘TEQUIZISTLAN 


The town of Tequizistlan is the capital of the jurisdiction. It 
is in the district of Texcoco, and was in ancient times an indepen- 
dent town that rendered allegiance to its natural lords until Neza- 





é ; ee 


Figure 1. PLace-NAMES OF T'Excoco. 


hualcoyotzin, lord of Texcoco, became an ally and confederate of 
Montezuma, lord of Mexico, and with tyranny subjugated said 
district, incorporating it into Texcoco and Mexico. The natives 
were unable to explain the meaning of the name Texcoco.! 


1 Evidence that the primitive town of Texcoco, like the residence and hill garden of Neza- 
hualcoyotl, was situated in or among the rocky foot-hills is furnished by the hieroglyph of the 
town; of which several variants are recorded in the native picture-writings and are retained in 
the arms of the town granted by Philip II and still in use. 

Its main element is a rocky hill, ‘“‘ Texcalli,”’ that conveys the first syllable of the name. In 
the ‘‘ Code en Croix” of the Aubin-Goupil Collection, the rocky nature of the hill is graphically 
rendered and this is surmounted by an earthen pot with two handles (a Comitl) that conveys 
the syllable ‘‘co’’ —an affix that signifies ‘‘in”’ (Fig. 1,a). 

In the Codex Mendoza, the hill is ingeniously formed by three signs for ‘‘ Tetl,’’ stone, form- 
ing three peaks, between which — “‘co,’’ = in — are two conventionalized drawings of a popular 
medicinal rock-plant (a Senecio), either of the names of which, ‘‘ Texcotli’”’ or ‘Texcapatli,”’ 
conveys the first two syllables of the name, while ‘“‘ Tetl’’ acts as a determinative (Fig. 1,5). 

A third variant occurs in the ‘‘ Histoire de la Nation Chichiméque’’ (Catalogue Raisonné de 
la Collection Goupil, E. Boban. Atlas. Planches 2 and 3), where, in a conical hill (covered with 
a design consisting of diagonals and dots), the pot ‘‘Comitl’’ is figured above the sign for stone, 
“Tetl.’’? Inthis case two duplications of sound occur, that is: ‘‘ Texcalli”’ or hill, and ‘‘Tetl”’ or 
stone. The duplication of ‘‘co’’ was obtained by placing the ‘‘Comitl’’ in (co) the hill (Fig. 
1,c). Of the three examples given, this is the only one in which the vowel ‘“‘co”’ is duplicated 
and the full name “Texcoco’”’ is conveyed. In the others, it was evidently considered sufficient 
to record ‘‘Texco’’ only. 

For the etymology of the names of the other towns dealt with in this document, see the 
answers to Question XIII farther on. 


50 | OFFICIAL REPORTS 


‘TEPECHPAN 


The town of Tepechpan and its dependencies are held by 
Geronimo de Baessa, citizen of Mexico City. It is in the province 
of Texcoco and was an independent town until Nezahualcoyotzin, 
lord of Texcoco, tyrannized over it and made it a subject of Texcoco. 


ACOLMAN 


Acolman is in the district of Texcoco and was an independent 
town where the Chichimecs had their metropolis until Nezahual- 
coyotzin, lord of Texcoco, tyrannized over them, as will be told 
farther on. 

TEOTIHUACAN 


The town of San Juan is in the district of Texcoco. In ancient 
times it was the capital of a province because the surrounding towns, 
which were Otumba, Tepeapulco, Tlaquilpa and others, acknowl- 
edged it as such in heathen times, until Nezahualcoyotzin, lord 
of Texcoco, conquered them in war and tyrannized over them. ! 


QUESTION II 


Who was the discoverer and conqueror of said province and by 
whose order or mandate was it discovered? Give the year of its 
discovery and conquest and all that can be readily learnt about it. 


TEQUIZISTLAN 


As it is publicly known that it was Don Hernan Cortés, the Mar- 
ques del Valle, who discovered New Spain in 1519, reference is here 
made to the description which will be written in the City of Mexico. 


TEPECHPAN 


The discovery of said town in New Spain was made in 1519 by 
the Marques del Valle, Hernan Cortés, as is referred to in the 
description of the town of Tequizistlan. 


1 The important facts established by the above answers to Question I are that Tequizistlan 
and Tepechpan were ‘‘independent towns,”’ that Acolman was ‘‘the Chichimec metropolis,’’ 
and that Teotihuacan was ‘‘the capital of a province’”’ until all four towns were conquered by 
the allied lords of Mexico and Texcoco. The date of this conquest, etc., will be given in the 
note pertaining to the answers given to Question XIV. 


TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP II dl 


ACOLMAN 


As is publicly known, the discoverer of this town and of New 
Spain was Hernan Cortés, the Marques del Valle. The order 
and mandate and the year of its discovery are not set down here 
because in the description to be made in the City of Mexico these 
will be stated by the person in charge. 


TEOTIHUACAN 


The Marques del Valle was the discoverer of this land. 


QUESTION III 


State in general the climate and quality of said province or dis- 
trict; whether it is cold or hot, dry or damp, with much water or 
little and at what season there is more or less; and the prevailing 
winds, whether violent and from what quarter and at what season 
of the year. 

TEQUIZISTLAN 


Its temperature is cold and damp on account of its being situated 
near the great lagoon in the midst of canals. The rains fall gener- 
ally from May until the end of September. The winds blow from 
the South from January to the end of March in which month it 
blows with such violence that it causes many natives to suffer 
dangerously from headaches. From April onward, until the rains 
begin, the North wind generally blows with great strength at sun- 
set. This does less harm to the natives than the South wind. 


TEPECHPAN 


The temperature and quality of the climate of the capital 
Tepechpan is cold and damp, for the greater part of it lies low 
among canals. All of its dependencies are in a cold, dry region. 
Rains fall generally from the first of May to the end of September. 
South winds are prevalent from Christmas until the end of March 
and are very violent during the whole of this month, causing ill- 
ness among the natives. From April onwards the North wind 
blows and is less harmful, for in the day time it is temperate. All 
night it blows violently but as at this time the natives have re- 
tired into their homes it does not harm them. 


52 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


ACOLMAN 


The capital town of Acolman is cold and damp on account of 
being situated among canals and of having bad night dews. Its 
dependencies are in a cold region and lack water because the only 
water they have is rain water in basins or pools. From the middle 
of December until the end of March the South wind gives the na- 
tives headaches and pains in their bodies. In March it blows with 
great force. When the rains begin, the North wind blows and is 
unhealthy for the natives even if it blows temperately. 


TEOTIHUACAN 


The region in which said town and its dependencies lie, is cold, 
excepting its capital which is cold and damp on account of being 
situated among canals and fountains all proceeding from flowing 
springs. In winter from Christmas to March the South wind 
blows, with greater violence in March. It is unhealthful for the 
natives. From March to the end of October the North wind blows 
but does no harm to the natives because it is tempered. 


QUESTION IV 


State whether the country is level, rough, flat or mountainous; 
with many or few rivers and fountains, with abundance or scarc- 
ity of water; whether fertile or lacking in pasture; with an 
abundance or scarcity of fruits and sustenance. 


TEQUIZISTLAN 


Its entire district consists of a level plain open on all sides 
without any trees. Towards the East there is a high range of 
mountains. It lacks wood. The natives drink water from wells. 
It lacks fodder but yields an abundance of maize and beans, 
cactus fruits, cherries and agaves, of which the natives make good 
use. 

‘TEPECHPAN 


The land is flat and in Tepechpan and its dependencies there 
are very few trees. All the natives drink stored rain water al- 
though the river named San Juan passes through the town. 


TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP II 53 


ACOLMAN 


The capital Acolman is situated in a plain at the foot of a 
mound. It is level and has no fountains. A river called ‘‘de San 
Juan” runs by said town and is divided into three canals with 
which they irrigate a great piece of land nearly a league long 
and half a league wide. It is prolific in fodder and sustenance. 


TEOTIHUACAN 


The capital, San Juan, and all its subordinate towns lie in a 
plain and the farthest of the latter is situated at a distance of two 
leagues from the capital. Towards the North, a league distant, 
is a great mountain which the natives name Tenan, which in 
Spanish means ‘‘mother,’”’ because many small hills issue from it.! 


1 The second half of this name, ‘‘nan,” is an abbreviation of ‘‘ Nantli,’’ mother, while the 
first, ‘‘te,” is a contraction of ‘‘ Tetl,’ stone; thus the ancient Nahuatl name of the mountain 
signified ‘‘Stone Mother,” or ‘‘ Mother of Stone.’’ The native explanation that the moun- 
tain was so named ‘‘ because many small hills issue from it’”’ and because ‘‘it had given birth to 
many other mountains” (see answer to Question X XI) is shown to be strikingly appropriate by 
the report on the geology of the mountain recently published by Sefior Ezequiel Ordofiez, the 
distinguished ex-Director of the Geographical Institute of Mexico, in the monumental work 
already cited on the Valley of Teotihuacan issued by the Department of Anthropology. 

Sefior Ordofiez writes that the mountain, an extinct volcano, ‘‘does not now show its crater 
which had once vomited such great volumes of lava and loose stones, doubtlessly because the 
residue of the last lava flow had consolidated and obstructed its mouth. Before becoming 
extinct, however, it gave birth to a number of small subordinate volcanoes which, like parasite 
volcanoes, are scattered over its eastern, northern, and western slopes, and look very fresh.’’ 
From the foregoing, it may be inferred that the native name ‘‘ Mother of Stone’’ dated from a 
period when the dying volcano gave periodical birth to the small craters, possibly in compara- 
tively recent times. Compare note 1 on p. 74. 

Additional light is thrown on the ancient association of the mountain with the production 
of stone by other facts recorded by Sefior Ordofiez and also reported upon by the energetic and 
painstaking young geologist, Sefior Diaz Lozano, in the same monumental work. Both geolo- 
gists point out, as a characteristic of the now extinct volcano, the enormous quantities of loose 
stones and volcanic bombs which it cast forth with great force and scattered over the adjacent 
plains. Sefior Ordofiez states that the first inhabitants of the Valley of Teotihuacan must have 
found it thickly strewn with loose stones which would have constituted an inducement for them 
to settle there and build a city. Close by, moreover, was an inexhaustible supply of loose basal- 
tic stones of a portable size, for between the base of the ‘‘ Mother of Stone’’ and the site of the 
ancient metropolis there are vast areas covered with basaltic agglomerations which can easily 
be detached and there are also great caves or pockets entirely filled with loose stones. One of 
these caves is two hundred and ten feet long, sixty feet wide and forty-five feet high — others 
are three hundred feet long and nine feet deep. Besides this loose portable material the mountain 
furnished different kinds of basalt which were shaped and worked at a later period, a peculiar 
basalt whose structure furnished very compact and hard, thin, flat stone slabs which the primi- 
tive builders used as flags for flooring, in making drains and as supports for cornices. Pointed 
fragments of this hard stone were also employed as chisels by the ancient sculptors; besides all 
this valuable building material the same mountain had produced the immense quantity of 
the very light, porous loose fragments of lava, of various colors, which are so extensively em- 
ployed by the ancient constructors. The entire appropriateness of the name bestowed upon 
the prolific mountain by the ancient builders is therefore amply demonstrated, as well as its 


54 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


Another hill, medium sized, shelters the southeastern portion of 
the plain. In the territory of the subordinate towns there is a lack 
of water and the natives drink stored rain water. In the capital 
there is an abundance of water and many springs close together 
that feed a large river on which the natives have a mill. The 
water of said river irrigates two leagues of land, which is the 
whole length of its course. It passes by the towns of Acolman, 
Tepechpan, Tequizistlan, and the boundary of Texcoco, and emp- 
ties itself into the lagoon. This region yields an abundance of 
fodder and food supplies. ) 


QUESTION V 


State whether the district is inhabited by many or few Indians 
and whether in former times it had a greater or lesser population; 
the causes for the increase or diminution and whether the inhabi- 
tants live in regular towns permanently or not. | 

State also what is the character and condition of their intel- 
ligence, inclinations and modes of life; also whether different 
languages are spoken throughout the whole province or whether 
they have one which is spoken by all. 


TEQUIZISTLAN 


In ancient times, before the Conquest, it was densely populated 
and had more than four thousand tribute-paying inhabitants. 
After the Conquest many died from an illness like itch or mange 
all over the body. Since then they have always had illnesses. 
The Indians think that these have increased because they now 
have more luxury than in former times and because, before the 


unquestionable antiquity; for all indications point to the name having been invented at a re- 
mote period when small craters were still being formed and when the vast agglomerations of 
portable building material had been discovered and exploited by the founders of the great me- 
tropolis, that owed its existence to the vast amount of portable stones so conveniently at hand. 

The ancient name ‘“‘ Tenan”’ is quite unknown to the present inhabitants of the region, as I 
found on making many inquiries. Nor is the old name recorded in the recent publication men- 
tioned above. 

In a document dated 1608, published in this same work (Part III, p. 573), the name of the 
mountain is given as ‘‘ Temiztepetl,” called ‘‘Cerro Gordo,” and the latter Spanish name is the 
only one by which it is known by the natives nowadays. The fact that the ancient name 
‘“Tenan,” which appears to hark back to the nebulous period when Teotihuacan was founded, 
is in the highly developed and ancient Nahuatl tongue furnishes a valuable indication that 
the occupation of the Valley by Toltecs, a Nahuatl-speaking race, long ante-dated the arrival 
of the Aztecs in historical times. 


TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP II 55 


Conquest, they used to go naked and sleep on the ground and eat 
cactus leaves, cooked agave leaves and other plants yielding 
scant nourishment. Now they live well, eat delicate viands, baked 
bread, chicken, and beef and mutton, and wear clothes and sleep 
high [that is, in beds] covered at night with blankets. Any excess 
makes them ill, especially the drinking of pulque, which is gen- 
eral amongst them and is drunk from their childhood. Previous 
to the Conquest, when they did not drink nor were permitted 
to do so and were punished for drinking, they died old. Nowadays 
they do not live as long.!. This town has no streets nor have its 
dependencies, which are scattered about. The inhabitants are of 
medium intelligence. Their inclination is toward cultivating their 
lands excepting in one dependency which lies on the shore of the 
lagoon, in which the natives live on fishing and catching ducks 
and other birds with nets. They speak the Nahuatl language. 


TEPECHPAN 


At the present time this town and its dependencies have nine 
hundred and fifty tribute payers. In former times, and a short 
time before the Conquest, it was densely populated. The inhabi- 
tants have dwindled on account of the diseases they have had, 
which, according to the native belief, proceeded from their having 
less work and more luxury than before the Conquest, and also 
from the drinking of pulque and because at present the natives 
eat fowl and other birds whereas formerly they ate cactus leaves 
and the pulpy agave leaves and other herbs of little sustenance. 
The town is not a regular but a scattered one. The foremost or 
chief natives are of medium understanding and the rest are rude 
and dull. They are inclined to cultivate the land and maintain 
themselves by this exclusively. The Nahuatl tongue is commonly 
spoken, with the exception of some few natives who speak the 


Otomi tongue. 
ACOLMAN 


In past times it had many inhabitants. The natives were not 
able to tell us anything more certain than that in every house there 
lived six or seven married couples, besides unmarried youths. 
They died of the illnesses which spread amongst them. At the 


1 For interesting evidence concerning the relative health and longevity of the natives before 
and after the Conquest, see the answers to Question XV and notes thereto. 


56 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


present day according to the list of tribute payers, it has nineteen 
hundred of these. It is built without order and is not a regular 
town. Its inhabitants are well disposed although dull of under- 
standing. They live by cultivating the soil. The language they 
generally use is the Nahuatl. A few speak Otomi. 


TEOTIHUACAN 


The natives say that in ancient times this town was thickly pop- 
ulated by a great number of inhabitants. At present it has besides 
the ordinary population, according to appraisement, one thousand 
and six hundred payers of tribute. The natives say that many of 
them died during an epidemic which occurred a year before the 
discovery of New Spain. The town was not founded on a regular 
plan, but consists of a number of scattered houses. The inhabi- 
tants of said town are a polished people of a good understanding ! 
who always live on the produce of their land. They speak 
Nahuatl generally, but a very few of them speak the Otomi and 
Popoluca tongues. 


QUESTION VI 


State the latitude in which these towns of Spaniards lie if this 
has been taken or if known or if there is any one who knows how 
to take it. State on what days of the year the sun does not cast 
a shadow at noon. 


TEQUIZISTLAN 


This town lies in a straight line directly north of the City of Mex- 
ico at a distance of three leagues, therefore its latitude would be 
ten minutes higher than that of said city. In the middle of May 
and at the end of June the sun casts no shadow at noon. 


TEPECHPAN 


The latitude of the town of Tepechpan is about twelve minutes 
higher than the City of Mexico as its distance is about three 


1 Attention is drawn to the significant fact that whereas the inhabitants of Teotihuacan are 
described as ‘‘a polished people of a good understanding,” those of two of the other towns are 
entered as ‘“‘of medium intelligence,” and those of Acolman as ‘‘ well disposed although dull 
of understanding.’’ The higher degree of culture was evidently a survival from the time when 
Teotihuacan was the capital of a province, the residence of the ruling intellectual class and a 
great religious centre. 


TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP II ays y, 


leagues to the North of said City. In the middle of May and 
at the end of June the sun casts no shadow because the sun is at 
the zenith and shadows are under one’s feet and do not incline in 
any direction. 

ACOLMAN 


Acolman lies due north from the City of Mexico at a distance of 
a little more than three leagues; the difference in the latitude is 
nine minutes. In the middle of May and almost at the end of 
June the sun casts no shadow at noon and the shadow is underfoot. 


TEOTIHUACAN 


On account of the lack of the necessary instrument it was not 
possible to determine the latitude of the town, but, judging by that 
of the City of Mexico, it must be a little over twenty degrees. At 
the end of the month of May and in June the sun casts no shadow 
at noon.! 


QUESTION VII? 


State the distance in leagues between each city or town occu- 
pied by Spaniards and the city in which resides the Audiencia to 
whose jurisdiction it belongs or the residence of the governor to 
whom it is subject — also the direction in which said cities and 
towns lie from each other. 


QUESTION VIII 


Give also the distance in leagues between each city or town oc- 
cupied by Spaniards and those of the adjoining district, stating in 
what direction they lie; whether the leagues are long or short, 
the country level or broken and mountainous; whether the roads 
are straight or winding and good or bad for travel. 


QUESTION IX 


State the name and surname that every city or town has or had 
and the reason, if known, why they were so named; also who was 


1 In the Valley of Mexico and at Teotihuacan the sun is in the zenith twice a year: on 
May 17th at about 11.33 a.m., on its journey northward, and on July 26th, at about 11.43 a.m., 
on its return southward, at legal time (that is, the local mean time of the 105th Meridian). 

2 The following six questions are grouped together, and others will be similarly treated 
when the answers to them sent in from the four towns are more or less incomplete or are fur- 
nished by one town and not by another. 


58 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


their founder, who named them, and by whose order or mandate 
he made the settlement; the year of its foundation and the num- 
ber of inhabitants at that and at the present time. 


QUESTION X 


State the situation of said town, if it lies high or low or in a plain, 
and give a plan or colored drawing of the streets, squares and 
other places, the monasteries to be marked, which can be easily 
sketched on paper, as well as can be done. It is to be noted which 
parts of the town face North and South. 


QUESTION XI 


In the case of Indian towns it is only to be stated how far they 
are from the capital, in what district and jurisdiction they lie, 
and which is the nearest centre for the teaching of religious doc- 
trine. The names of all of the chief towns in its jurisdiction are 
to be given as well as those of their respective dependencies. 


QUESTION XII 


State also the distance between the other towns of Indians or 
Spaniards that surround it and the directions in which they lie and 
whether the leagues are long or short and the roads level or straight 
or mountainous and winding. 


TEQUIZISTLAN! 


The distance between the town of Tequizistlan and the City of 
Mexico, where the Royal Audiencia resides, is of five leagues of 
road, three running from North to South and two from East to 
West. The town lies at the Northeast of the City of Mexico. It 
lies in a low plain, among canals, very close to the lagoon. It is 


1 Sefior Troncoso has drawn attention to the fact that in a document dating from the middle 
of thesixteenth century, the name of this town is given as ‘‘ Tecciztlan”’ (op. cit., Vol. VI, p. 226 
note). This is confirmed by the use of the great marine conch shell —“ Tecciztli’’— as the hiero- 
glyph to designate the town in the Alonso de Santa Cruz map, although the Spanish rendering 
of the name as ‘‘ Tequizistlan,’’ is written alongside. (See Plate2, upper left corner.) The native 
informants were evidently aware that the local name was derived from some sort of shell. The 
gratuitous and plausible explanation they volunteered, however, about the name having origi- 
nated from the abundance of small fresh-water shells found in the canals is obviously wrong, 
and may have been inspired by the wish to appear ignorant of the name, even, of the marine 
conch shell that was so intimately associated with the cult of the moon and the water gods in 
their ancient, forbidden and persecuted religion. 


TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP IT 59 


the capital of the district of the Corregidor and is a league distant 
from Acolman, the centre for the teaching of religious doctrine. 
Its dependencies are Totoltzinco and Acaltecoya. It lies to the 
Northeast of the City of Mexico, separated from it by a distance 
of five leagues of straight and level road running from North to 
South for three leagues and from East to West for two leagues. 
A straight and level road leads to the City of Texcoco which lies 
to the Southeast at a distance of two leagues. These leagues are 
medium ones. 


TEPECHPAN 


The town of Tepechpan is at a distance of five leagues from the 
City of Mexico where the Audiencia and Royal Chancery reside 
and is separated by a level road which runs directly from North to 
South for three leagues and two from East to West. It lies to the 
Northeast of the City of Mexico. The town is situated in a plain 
on the southern slope of a small hill. The plain is open to all sides. 
It has, to the Northwest, a small mountain which shelters it, and 
at the North the hill at whose base it lies protects it also some- 
what. It is exposed towards the East. It belongs to the jurisdic- 
tion of Tequizistlan and is at a distance of a quarter of a league 
from said town and from Acolman where the monks who teach 
the Doctrine reside. Within three quarters of a league are its 
dependencies, Santiago Zaqualuca, San Miguel Atlanmaxac, Santa 
Ana Tlachahualco, San Francisco Temazcalapa, San Matheo 
Teopancalco, San Pedro Tulamihuacan, San Cristobal Culhuaca- 
zingo, Santa Maria Maquiteco, San Juan Teacalco, San Bartolome 
Atoepan, San Geronimo Chiapa and Santa Maria Suchitepec. 

The town Tepechpan is at a distance from the City of Mexico 
of five medium leagues by level road, which runs for three leagues 
from North to South and two from East to West. It lies North- 
east of the City of Mexico. 

At the Southwest of the town of Tepechpan les the town of 
Texcoco two long leagues distant by a straight and level road. At 
its South lies the town of Tequizistlan, a quarter of a league distant 
by a straight road and at its North the town of Acolman, its reli- 
gious centre, three quarters of a league distant by a straight, level 
road. Towards the West it has the town and district of Chico- 
nauhtla, two short leagues distant by a straight and level road. 


60 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


ACOLMAN 


The town of Acolman falls under the jurisdiction of the City of 
Mexico where the Royal Audiencia resides, at a distance of five 
long leagues of level road, three and a half of which run almost 
due North to South and a league and a half to the Northeast. At 
its Southwest lies the town of Texcoco at a distance of two and a 
half leagues of straight, level road. It belongs to the jurisdiction 
of the district of Tequizistlan and is the chief seat of religious 
instruction. Its dependencies are San Pedro Tepetitlan, San 
Antonio Huiztonco, San Miguel Jumetla, Santa Maria Tlatecpa, 
Sant Ana Atenpa, San Bartolome Quauhtlapeco, San Juan Chico- 
nauhtecapa, Santiago Atla, Tres Reyes Yzquitlan, San Agustin 
Aticpac, San Martin Tonala, San Niculas Tenextlacotla, Santa 
Maria Ostonocazea, San Matheo Tezcacohuac, Santo Tomas 
Atlauhco, San Marcos Quauhyoca, San Felipe Sacatepec, San 
Martin Huiznahuac, Santa Maria Atenpa, San Juan Tlaxicaya, 
Santiago Nopaltepec, San Matheo Tochatlauco, San Lucas Tla- 
mazingo, Santa Maria Saquala, Santa Maria Chiapan, San Juan 
Tepehuizco and San Juan Atlatonco. 

To its South it has the town of Tepechpan, three quarters of a 
league distant; to the North-northeast the town of San Juan 
Teotihuacan, one league distant; to the Southwest the town of 
Texcoco, nearly two and a half leagues distant; to the West the 
town and district of Chiconauhtla, a long league and a half distant. 


TEOTIHUACAN 


The town of San Juan Teotihuacan lies to the Northeast of the 
City of Mexico where the Royal Audiencia resides, at a distance of 
six long leagues of level country. The said town of San Juan is 
separated from the city of Texcoco by three long leagues of 
straight road and level country. Its distance from Acolman is one 
league; from Tequizistlan two leagues both lying almost directly 
South. Tequizistlan is the capital of the Corregimiento. 

Its subordinate towns are: San Lorenzo Atezcapa, San Miguel 
Tldtezcac, San Matheo Tenango, San Sebastian Chimalpan, Santa 
Maria Aguatlan, San Francisco Macatlan, San Pedro Tlaguican, 
San Martin Teacal, Santiago Tolman, San Andres Oztolpachun- 
can (sic), Los Reyes Aticpac, San Antonio Tlajomulco, San Agustin 


TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP II 61 


Ohuayucan, San Pedro Ocotitlan, San Miguel Tlalguac, San Luis 
Xiuhquemeccan, San Juan Evangelista Tlaylotlacan. Its distance 
from Otumba is two leagues to the Northeast by a straight road. 
The town of Tepetlauztuc lies to the Southwest at a distance of 
two and a half leagues of level ground. 


QUESTION XIII 


State what the name of the Indian town means; why it was so 
named; what there is to know about it and what its name is in the 
language which the native inhabitants actually speak. 


TEQUIZISTLAN 


Tequizistlan means “place where shells abound ”’ and, accord- 
ing to the natives, it is so called because there are many shells in 
the canals of said town. The sole language they speak is the 
Nahuatl. 


TEPECHPAN 1 


Tepechpan in the Indian language means ‘‘a town set on a large 
rock”’ and is named thus because it was founded near a rocky hill. 
The language spoken by the natives of the chief town and its de- 
pendencies is the Nahuatl, with the exception that some few of 
them speak Otomi. 


ACOLMAN 2 


Acolman in the Nahuatl language means ‘“‘shoulder and arm.” 
The Indians could give no reason why it was thus named. The 
language they generally speak is the Nahuatl; a few speak Otomi. 


1 ** Tepexitl’’ —a large rock; ‘‘Pan’’—upon. In the original document the name of this 
town is written ‘‘ Tepexpan ’’ — a spelling that is more correct than ‘‘ Tepechpan,”’ now in use. 

2 The name of the town of Acolman, expressed by a rebus consisting of a shoulder and arm 
combined with the sign for water, is an interesting specimen of the native picture writing. The 
shoulder — ‘‘ Acolli’’ — conveys the first two syllables of the name and the sign for water — 
“ Atl’? — serves as a determinative by duplicating the vowel ‘‘a.’’ The hand — ‘ Maitl’’? — 
furnishes the syllable ‘‘ma,’’ and thus ‘‘ Acol-ma’’ was conveyed, this being the ancient name, 
as can be seen in the Plan (Plate 1) where it is spelt ‘‘Aculma,” the u and o being interchange- 
able in the Nahuatl tongue. The fact that the same hieroglyph served also to express the tribal 
name ‘‘ Acolhua”’ and the name of the province ‘‘Acolhuacan’”’ is revealed by its use in combina- 
tion with the sign for Texcoco in the Codex Mendoza, the Codex Osuna, and in the arms of the 
town conferred upon it by Philip II. 

This combination was probably assumed after the Conquest of Acolman, the ancient metrop- 
olis of Acolhuacan, by Nezahualcoyotl, when Texcoco became the capital of the province, and 
the name Acolhuacan was applied to the whole territory subjected to the Texcocan rulers. 

In the famous map of Alonso de Santa Cruz, the familiar rebus consisting of an arm and 
water designates the town of Acolman (see centre of Plate 2 and compare with Fig. 2, from 


62 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


TEOTIHUACAN 


In the language of the Indians the name of the town of San 
Juan is Teotihuacan, meaning ‘‘temple of gods,” because in this 
town there was the oracle where the Indians of Mexico and those 
of all other surrounding towns idolatrized.! 


QUESTION XIV 


State to whom the Indians belonged in heathen times and what 
dominion was exercised over them by their lords; what tribute 
they paid and the form of worship, rites and customs they had, 
good or bad.? 


Codex Mexicanus, Collection Goupil-Aubin Planche, 24, op. cit.) the name of which is, however, 
not written also in Spanish characters as in the case of the majority of other places. It was 
probably for this reason, and for the misleading error of the map-maker, who wrote the name 
“ Tequizistlan’’ close by (in the wrong place and for the second time) that it was overlooked by 
Sefior Arreola in the recent Mexican government publication already cited. On page 370 of 
Tomo I, Volume IT, he actually affirms: ‘‘ Alonso de Santa Cruz does not even register the town 
of Acolman.’”’ (‘‘Alonso de Santa Cruz no registro siquiera el pueblo de Acolman.’’) 

It is interesting to note that in 1697 Gemelli Carreri wrote that he had visited ‘‘the town of 
Acolman or Aculma,”’ which shows that both pronunciations were still in use at that time. 

The fact that, in the Codex Mendoza, the identical sign composed by an arm and water is 
used to designate the town of ‘‘ Coliman’’ — Colima — is interpreted by Orozco y Berra and 
Pefiafiel, in Nombres Geogrdficos, as implying that this locality, near the Pacific Coast, was con- 
quered by the Acolhuas. They were evidently not aware that Ixtlilxochitl, the native historian 
whose statements are of great weight, having been approved of by the six most learned and 
aged caciques of his time, relates that the Acolhuas ‘‘ were from beyond the provinces of Mich- 
oacan,’’ and that in the year One Flint (1063 a.p.) three Acolhua lords, whose names he gives, 
“‘accompanied by many vassals, among them the nation of Otomis, having heard of the 
greatness of Xolotl, the Chichimec lord and leader, of his having seized all the country and 
that he was colonizing it, came to offer him obedience and ask him for lands where they could 
colonize. He was much pleased to see them, for they were a civil people, well governed, and 
giving them lands for colonizing, he also gave two of them daughters of his in marriage; to the 
principal lord named Acolhua he gave his oldest daughter, and the town of Atzcapotzalco as 
the capital of his state, with more lands and provinces for his vassals; to the second, with a 
daughter, the town of Xaltocan (on an island in the lake of Xaltocan); and to the third ‘ Acol- 
huatitlan Acolhuacan.’ In this way he obliged them, telling them that they only needed to 
recognize him as their lord and sovereign, and need not pay him any tribute whatsoever.’”’ (See 
Obras Historicas de . . . Ixtlilxochitl, ed. Chavero, Mexico, 1891, Tomo I, p. 94, also p. 268 
and Tomo II, p. 40.) Archaeological evidence, obtained in recent years, strikingly confirms the 
truth of the above history, for a remarkable similarity exists between the type of the clay figu- 
rines I and several fellow-archaeologists have found near Atzcapotzalco (in my case at a depth 
of 16 feet under a gravel-bed) and those unearthed in the present states of Michoacan and Col- 
ima. Both are characterized by thesame type of long, narrow faces and square brows, etc., the 
clay being, in both cases, of a fine, light-colored variety. 

1 Without entering here into what would be a fruitless discussion of the many different 
etymologies of the name that have been published from time to time, the newest being contained 
in the recent publication of the Mexican Government, attention is drawn to the interesting ex- 
planation given here that Teotihuacan owed its name and designation as a ‘‘temple of gods” 
to a famous oracle that was there. Further mention of this oracle will be found in the answer to 
Question XIV. ; 

2 Attention is drawn here to the curious fact that in the following answers from the town 
of Tequizistlan it is stated that ‘‘they adored the idol Huitzilopochtli’”’; in the answer from 


TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP II 63 


TEQUIZISTLAN 


In ancient times the Indians came from Chicomoztoc in the land 
of the Chichimecs and peopled the town of Tequizistlan and the 
other districts. They had as their lord Izcuin, who wore a cloak 
of coarse agave fibre, a loin cloth and sandals. Every day they 
contributed some rabbits and snakes for his sustenance and he had 
Indian servants who guarded and served in his house. He did not 
eat fowl. Besides the above they gave him skirts and shoulder 
capes of coarse agave fibre. He did not use cotton; nor did the 
natives take him aught beyond what has been stated. They 
adored the idol Huitzilopochtli and every eighty days they sacri- 
ficed thereto the Indians who were condemned to death for crimes 
they had committed. They lived and were condemned to pun- 
ishments according to the law of Nature. 


TEPECHPAN 


The Indians affirm that in heathen times they formed an in- 
dependent republic. They paid no tribute to their lords but only 
acknowledged them as such by giving them daily, hares, rabbits, 
snakes, quail and domestic fowl. They were Chichimecs until 
some years later a cacique of somewhat greater culture, named 
Axoquauhtzin, became their ruler. To him they contributed, 
every eighty days, four loads of coarse agave-fibre cloths, each 
load containing twenty cloths and eighty sandals; also four loads 
of the finer cloths made of agave fibre called ‘‘ayates.’’ Later on, 
fifty years previous to the reign of Montezuma, lord of Mexico, the 
lordship of Tepechpan was held by Tencuyotzin, to whom the 
natives of said town began to yield tribute. Every eighty days 
they brought him fifty cotton cloths four legs (piernas) wide and 
eight arm-lengths long; and also thirty other cotton cloths four 
arm-lengths long and four legs wide; also forty other cloths for 
wearing worked with rabbits’ wool and twenty loads of cocoa from 
Soconozco, each load containing twenty-four thousand cocoa 
beans; also forty skirts and as many shoulder capes (for women) ; 
twenty loads of chili peppers and as many of seeds. 

Tepechpan, that ‘‘they had no idols and worshipped the Sun daily’’; in the answer from Acol- 
man, that ‘‘they adored Tezcatlipoca”’; and in that from Teotihuacan, that ‘‘their principal 
idol was Huitzilopochtli,” but that ‘‘for greater veneration, this had been placed on the hill 


of Chapultepec,” a statement that may have been made for the purpose of warding off any 
search for this idol being made at Teotihuacan. 


64 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


They had no idols and worshipped the sun, offering it daily, 
snakes, butterflies and some game birds. The man who first 
found any kind of the above creatures, at whatever hour of the 
day it might be, cut off its head and, turning towards the sun, 
offered it so that the sun should protect him that day. They had 
no other rite or custom and occupied themselves with hunting. 


ACOLMAN 


In ancient times, when they were heathens, the natives of Acol- 
man, those of Coatlinchan in the district of Texcoco, and those of 
Atzcapotzalco named Tepanecs, knew no alien lord and only ren- 
dered obedience to their native lords until about twenty years, more 
or less, before the Marques del Valle arrived 
and conquered New Spain, one Nezahualco- 
yotzin, lord of Texcoco, allied himself with 
Montezuma, lord of Mexico, and tyrannized 
over the whole region.!_ Afterwards the natives 
of the town began to render tribute to the lord 
of Texcoco, but only to the extent of furnish- 
ing him with fighting men in war time. To 
their native lords they had formerly paid, as 
tribute, a load of coarse agave-fibre cloths, twenty in a load and 
another load of thin agave-fibre cloths; a load of women’s shoulder 
capes of thin agave fibre; a load of petticoats of the same and 
some fowl (they did not know how many). Every day they con- 
tributed a load of dried agave leaves to be used for fuel, and an- 
other load of the wood of the wild cherry tree. Their lord had, 
in his house, Indians who guarded and served him. They adored 
Tezcatlipoca. 

When they returned from warfare and brought some prisoners 
they assembled by order of the lord and held a festival, taking those 
who were to be sacrificed to a great temple which is in the said 
town. They were decked with rich cloths, carried flowers in their 
hands and danced until they reached the summit of the pyra- 
mid temple where they tamely submitted to being stripped and 
thrown backwards on a large stone on the edge of which they were 
stretched, their head and legs hanging and their breast taut. A 





FIGURE 2 


PLACE-NAME OF ACOLMAN 


1 Instead of ‘‘twenty years, more or less,’ read ‘‘ninety years,’’ the final Conquest of Acolman 
and Teotihuacan and adjacent country by Nezahualcoyotl and his cousin Montezuma the Elder 
having taken place in 1429. 


TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP II 65 


cut was made across the body below the ribs with a flint knife and 
the heart was torn out. This was carried in a painted gourd bowl 
to the idol and was cast before it. Old men were specially ap- 
pointed for this office and they took the dead body and placed it 
in a bath. After it was well washed with hot water they cooked 
and ate it, dividing it between the chieftains and captains. They 
lived according to the law of Nature. 

The Indians who distinguished themselves in warfare, took 
prisoners and killed enemies, were authorized to wear on their 
heads in peace times as a mark of distinction, white feathers 
stuck on with paste. In the month of March they celebrated 
a feast which they named Tlacaxipehualiztl which means ‘‘the 
flaying of a person.’”’ It was ordered that during twenty days 
the slaves who were to be sacrificed danced every day, singing sad 
songs, carrying certain shields and flowers in their hands and wear- 
ing a kind of wide shirt sewn together at the sides and named 
“xicalco.”’ 

When, at the end of the twenty days, they were to be sacrificed 
they were taken to the summit of the pyramid temple where the 
idol was. After the heart had been torn out and offered to the 
idol, the corpse was thrown to the base of the pyramid and beaten 
with rods until the skin became raised.! Then they flayed it and 
an Indian clothed himself with it and ran about the neighboring 
towns showing himself and begging for alms. He was given maize 
and huauhtl and other things, all of which was given to the owner 
of the sacrificed slave who, twenty days after the sacrifice, took 
the flayed skin and buried it publicly in the temple of the idol. 
Inviting all the lords on the day of the burial, they consumed all 
the edibles which had been collected as alms. On the day when 
the slave was sacrificed the lords arrayed themselves and danced 
all day long and partook of the flesh of the victim. On the day 
when the skin was buried they beat a drum in the temple of the 
idol, at the sound of which all Indians who were working in their 
fields ran and shut themselves up in their houses. For the Indian 
who had worn the skin ran all over the country and if he found 
anyone working in the fields he shaved the top of his head and 
thus made him a slave. If he found no living soul, instead of hair 

‘1 According to Sefior Troncoso y Paso, this method of treating the skin before flaying the 


body was also used by the Indians of Teutitlan. It was probably the method generally em- 
ployed in the gruesome rite. 


66 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


he had to cut agave leaves to bring back to the temple. They ob- 
served the custom of burning incense every twenty days in a cir- 
cular building nearly two yards high. The vassals daily burnt in- 
cense in their homes. 

The festivals they observed every twenty days had different 
names. One of them was named Suchimanaloya, which means 
‘“‘the gathering of flowers,” ! it being the custom to gather, on that 
day, many flowers in the hills and plains and to place them where 
they burned incense without any further rite or ceremony. An- 
other festival was named Hueytozoztli, its ritual being that, three 
days previously, they gathered some of the earliest maize shoots 
and tied them in bunches with bean-blossoms. On the feast day 
they carried these to the house of the owner of the field in which 
they had been gathered and laid them on a clean mat. In front 
of said bunches they placed as an offering, a small basketful of 
pinole which is made of roasted and ground maize, and a basket of 
tamales and on the top of the basket a cooked frog ? with its limbs 
stretched out. It was their intention thereby to appease their 
idol so that it would give them a good harvest. When the said 
feast day had passed the owner of the field in which said maize 
shoots had been gathered, ate the offerings. They had another 
festival named Toxcatl, the ceremonial of which was to take 
maize from the fields and roast it and when it popped and burst 
to string the pop-corn for necklaces and chaplets which they wore 
on their necks and heads. The old people danced, rejoicing at the 
good year conceded to them. 

Another festival was named Etzalqualiztli and its ritual was 
that they took maize, beans, huawhllr, and all kinds of seeds they 
cultivated and made tamales of them all mixed together. Small 
eroups consisting of five, six or ten persons went dancing through 
the streets and into houses and the palaces of the lords where they 
offered each other the aforesaid tamales as a sign of festivity and 
rejoicing. 

They had five other festivals named Tecuilhuitontli, Hueytecuil- 
huitl, Miccailhuitl, Hueymiccailhuitl and Ochpaniztli in which 


1 This seems to have been a local name for the festival that is usually named “ Tozoztli’? — 
the feast that followed it being designated as ‘‘ Huei-tozoztli’’ or ‘‘ the great Tozoztli.”’ 

2 The frog was the emblem of the goddess of water, and she was worshipped under this form. 
An “extremely beautiful Temple of the Frog, the goddess of Water’’ is mentioned by Ixtlilxo- 
chitl (Obras Histéricas . . . ed. Chavero, Mexico 1891, Tomo I, p. 37) as having been built by 
the Toltecs in the ninth century of the Christian era by Mitl. 


TO HiseMalES VY, PRULTP i 67 


the only ceremony observed was the burning of incense in front 
of the idol. They had another festival named Tepeilhuitl which 
means “‘the feast of the mountains,” the ritual of which was that 
whenever an Indian, on going to fetch fuel, found any piece of 
wood or branch which was crooked or twisted, he brought it to 
his house and when this festival arrived, covered it with the dough 
named tzoalli, placed it on a clean rush mat, and when the festival 
was over, ate the dough. They had another festival named Que- 
cholli, the ritual of which was to take dry canes and make arrows 
of them, decorating them with feathers. Early in the morning of 
this day all the common people assembled arrayed for warfare 
and went hunting. They then danced with the produce of their 
hunt such as rabbits, rats or snakes, and ate them with tamales 
made of maize and the sweet juice of the agave. 

They had another festival named Panquetzaliztli, in which the 
boys of the town aged ten years or less, wearing rich mantles, 
danced in honor of the idol in the temple square. During the 
other two festivals named Atemoztli and Tititl, the sole ceremonial 
was the burning of incense before the idol. 

Another festival was named Izcalli and its ritual was that after 
midnight they took their children and holding their heads between 
the palms of their hands lifted them repeatedly so that they should 
grow rapidly. At the same time they also feasted and drank. 

In another festival, named Quahuitlecua, their ritual was that 
the chieftain took many folded sheets of paper and joining them 
together made [something] like a lance. He then went to the top 
of some hill where they had their idols, followed by all the common 
people and there they offered the papers and burnt incense and 
covered the idols with cotton mantles, leaving them there until 

time destroyed them. 


TEOTIHUACAN 


In heathen times its people constituted a republic which recog- 
nized no authority but that of its natural lords who were [of the 
race] named Chichimecas, until Netzahualcoyotzin, lord of Tex- 
coco, made war and tyrannized over the whole territory, killing 
sons of Tetzotzomoctzin, lord of Atzcapotzalco, to whom all ren- 
dered allegiance. After the death of Tetzotzomoctzin the said 
-Netzahualcoyotzin made himself powerful by making an alliance 


68 . OFFICIAL REPORTS 


with Montezuma, lord of Mexico. They divided between them- 
selves the lands of the towns of Teotihuacan and Acolman. The 
inhabitants of Teotihuacan, in recognition of their overlordship, 
paid them as tribute, every eight days, some blankets made of 
coarse agave fibre, named zchtzlmates, and some loads of agave 
leaves, named metlontle. 

Their principal idol was Huitzilopochtli which for greater vener- 
ation was placed on the hill of Chapultepec in the City of Mexico. 
Aside from this there were other minor idols in the town of San 
Juan which was the temple and oracle to which the inhabitants of 
all neighboring towns flocked. 

In the said town there was a very high pyramid temple which 
had [stairs with] three landing places [terraces] by means of which 
one ascended to the summit.!' On its summit was a stone idol they 
named Tonacatecuhlli, made of a very hard, rough stone all of one 
piece. It was eighteen feet long, six feet wide and six feet thick, 
and faced the West.’ 

In the level space in front of said temple, there was another small 
one, eighteen feet high, on which was an idol smaller than the 
first, named Micttlantecuhtli, which means Lord of the Under- 
world. This faced the first and was seated on a large stone six feet 
square. A little farther to the North was another [pyramid] 
temple slightly smaller than the first, which was called ‘‘the Hill 
of the Moon,” on the top of which was another great idol nearly 
eighteen feet high which they named the Moon. Surrounding 
this [pyramid] temple were many others, in the largest of which 
were six other idols called ‘“‘the Brethren of the Moon,’’ to all of 
which the priests of Montezuma, the lord of Mexico, with the 
said Montezuma came to offer sacrifices, every twenty days.’ 


1 This positive statement that the pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan consisted of three 
stages is confirmed by the representations of both pyramids in the accompanying Map (Plate 1) 
and in that made by the famous cosmographer Alonso de Santa Cruz (see Plate 2, lower right- 
hand side). 

2 The stone idol described here is the ‘‘image of the Sun’”’ mentioned by Gemelli Carreri 
who in 1697 was shown a fragment of it that had been thrown from the summit of the pyramid 
of the Sun and had, on account of its great size, stayed half way down. Ixtlilxochitl, the native 
historian, who resided at Teotihuacan, states that Tonacatecuhlli signified ‘‘ God of Sustenance’’ 
(‘‘ Tonacayotl’?— human sustenance or the fruits of the earth, and ‘‘Tecuhlli’’—lord) and 
that this was one of the principal gods, in the figure of the sun, the other being his wife, in the 
figure of the moon. (Obras Histdéricas de Don Fernando de Alva Ixtlilxochitl, ed. Chavero, 
Mexico 1891, Tomo I, p. 39.) 

3 This statement that Montezuma and his priests came to Teotihuacan every twenty days 
is of extreme importance and interest, for it reveais that this ancient Toltec capital qubbeyed 
to be a great religious centre down to the time of the Spanish Conquest. 


TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP II 69 


During the entire year they observed eighteen festivals, or one 
festival every period of twenty days. Each festival had its differ- 
ent ceremonials as is set forth in paragraph fourteen of the descrip- 
tion of Acolman to which I refer. 

Every four-year period closed with a feast on the number twenty 
but in the bissextile year there were five days in excess and they 
then held a feast in a large square that was situated between the 
two pyramids. In the centre of this square there was a small plat- 
form about twelve feet high on which they punished evil-doers and 
delinquents. 


QUESTION XV 


State how they were governed; with whom they carried on war- 
fare; how they fought; the clothes and costume they wore and 
now wear and whether they used to be more or less healthy than 
now and the reason that is known for this.! 


1 It is an interesting and instructive fact that, in reports from a number of towns, situated 
in different parts of Mexico, the answers to Questions V and XV unanimously and invariably 
relate that previous to the Conquest the natives enjoyed better health and longer lives and 
that the physical deterioration since then was due to the living in towns, the use of more cloth- 
ing, a greater license and independence, and the indulgence in a meat diet and pulque. The 
following reports from towns pertaining to the diocese of Oaxaca, corroborate these and are 
particularly explicit and illuminating: 

“The oldest inhabitants state that the reason why the natives are more shortlived nowadays 
than in heathen times is because anciently they did not sleep in towns or settlements; and ate 
naught but dry tortillas made with great labor and care. Thus they lived strong and healthy 
and when they married they were at least over thirty years of age and thus led healthy lives. 
After the Spaniards came they built houses and lived in peace and tranquillity; ate an abun- 
. dance of different foods; wore clothes and indulged themselves. The boys marry at twelve 
and fifteen, and all these things, as it is reasonable to suppose, cause them to be more short- 
lived nowadays.” (Town of Chichicapa.) 

“|. . In olden times the natives lived a hundred years or more and now they die young 
and what they say and explain and communicate to each other on the subject is that the reason 
for this is that anciently the children were put to work at the age of six or seven. As there 
were so many wars there was no time to cultivate much and so they ate little, slept in the open 
and were fitted to live in constant labor. After the Spaniards came they wore clothes, slept 
in houses, ate and drank and indulged themselves much. In those days an Indian married at 
forty and now at twelve or fifteen. .. .””. (Town of Ocelotepec.) 

“|. . They used to fight with the natives of other neighboring towns for no cause or reason 
whatsoever, only for the exercise and they ate the flesh of those they captured alive in battle, 
and not that of those killed in warfare. ... They ate tortillas or tamales and some chile and 
no more. Once a year when they celebrated their harvest, they killed a hen, chicken, dog or 
rabbit (if able to catch it) or other game and ate it, offering first of all to their idol the first 
‘fruits of all they caught or killed — for in all things they were subjected to strict laws. ... 
They say that notwithstanding the hard work they used to suffer under, they used to be health- 
ier . . . they say an Indian used to live more than a hundred and twenty years and now it is 
a great deal if the age of eighty is reached, although the natives now lead such an easy life and 
are the masters of their properties which formerly they were not, for no one then dared eat any- 
thing they raised under pain of fine or death.”’? (Town of Iztepexi.) 

“ . . . Their ordinary food used to be tortillas and chile and beans and if anyone hunted a 
deer, rabbit or mouse they ate it although usually they presented it to their native lord who 


70 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


TEQUIZISTLAN 


The natives of this place had no government. All they under- 
stood was to hunt and to cultivate very little land. They had 
never been at war or quarrelled with anyone until Nezahualcoyot- 
zin, the lord of Texcoco, conquered the district and allied himself 
with Montezuma, lord of Mexico. They made vassals of the 
natives of this town and distributed among their sons the lands 
they owned. They fought with bows and arrows, and clubs gar- 
nished with obsidian points. They had shields made of hard cane. 
Their war costume was of the skin of rabbits and other animals 
and feathers of birds, and in time of peace they went naked and 
only used coarse mantles of agave fibre and loin cloths. ‘The chiefs 
wore sandals. Nowadays all in general wear cotton mantles, 
shirts and trousers and the women cotton shirts and shoulder 
capes. Some use woollen mantles. They sleep high and cover 
themselves with woollen blankets. 

In ancient times their food consisted of snakes, cactus and cooked 
agave leaves and some herbs of little nourishment with which they 
lived heathily. Nowadays they are accustomed to eat game birds 
and domestic fowl, baked bread, also other products of the lagoon, 
with which they are not as healthy as in olden times because they 
have more luxury now than they had then. 


TEPECHPAN 


According to what the natives say, they governed themselves 
according to the law of Nature. For many years they lived in 
peace, without being at war with anyone until, two hundred years 
before the time of Montezuma, they had some encounters with 
the lords of Mexico who wanted to subjugate them, whereas they 


would give them some of it or some other food or clothing as a compensation, because only the 
lords had permission to eat turkeys, quail, deer and other game. Nowadays everybody eats 
tortillas, chile, beans, gourds and deer although they cost excessive prices, also other meats of 
our cattle or of the game they kill... .””. (Town of Tepeucila.) 

“ They use at present the same foods they used to but have many meats, as they eat sheep, 
ewes and cows, there being no town which does not have its community ranch and private ones, 
thus having meat in abundance. ... As the reason why, in ancient times, they lived much 
longer, all dying old then and young nowadays, they say it must be because they work less now 
than they used to, having then to render personal service not only to the caciques and lords 
but also to the ‘ Tequitlatos’ who were those who were in charge,’ Alsc hecause nowadays they 
marry in boyhood, whereas formerly they did so at the age of thirty or forty. . . .””’ (Town of 
Miahuatlan.) 


TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP II AL 


defended themselves so as not to receive their evil customs. They 
became confederates by means of a marriage. A hundred and 
twenty years later a lord of Atzcapotzalco near Mexico, named 
Maxtlaton, with despotism killed Tencoyotzin, lord of Tepechpan, 
in order to increase his dominion, for which reason they waged 
war against Atzcapotzalco and joined the Mexicans and made war 
on those of Soconusco and Tlaxcala and Huejotzinco and the 
province of Michoacan. 

The chieftains wore a loin cloth named maztli, no shirt, and man- 
tles worked with designs, also bracelets and labrets of stones 
named chalchthwtes. Ordinary men went naked with a loin cloth 
only and a mantle of agave fibre. Nowadays they generally wear 
cotton mantles, shirts and loose trousers; only a few wear loin 
cloths. The commonest foods they have always used and still use 
are maize, beans, squashes, huauhtle and chili peppers. 

After the arrival of the Marques del Valle they ate fowl. The 
natives state that before he came they had never had any remark- 
able illness but that about a year before his arrival, a great num- 
ber of them died of a disease like small-pox which broke out all 
over their bodies. Since then they have never been free from ill- 
ness, they do not know why. 


ACOLMAN 


The lord of Acolman used to govern his Indians and punished 
those who committed crimes. If any chieftain committed a crime 
this was investigated by the lord of Texcoco. 

The people of Acolman carried on war with those of Tlaxcalla 
and the mountain range of Metztitlan, and fought them with bows 
and arrows, wooden sabres with obsidian points, and wore cotton 
mantles. In time of peace the chieftains always wore fine loin 
clothes, mantles of agave fibre, and sandals, excepting at festivals 
when they wore mantles worked with designs. When they went 
out, in order to protect themselves from the sun, each carried a 
feather fan. All vassals wore only a mantle of coarse agave fibre 
and a loin cloth. Nowadays all generally wear cotton shirts and 
mantles and trousers; they cover themselves at night with blankets, 
whereas in ancient times they only covered themselves with the 
mantle they wore in day time. The chieftains used to eat game 
birds and some domestic fowl. The commoners only ate the cooked 


72 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


leaves of the cactus or agave and other wild herbs. Nowadays all 
generally eat maize bread and chicken and beef or mutton. 

Previous to the Conquest, in olden times, they were very healthy 
but nowadays they suffer from disease and do not live as long. 
The natives believe that it is on account of the little work and 
much feasting that they now have. 


TEOTIHUACAN 


They governed by means of some laws they had, in accordance 
with which they punished malefactors. One of these laws decreed 
that those who committed adultery and were found in delicto 
fragranti, were handed over to the relatives of the offended party 
and were beaten to death publicly within two days. If by chance 
the offended one forgave the crime the pair were not punished be- 
yond the fact that the wife was separated from her husband. If 
the latter returned to her he incurred penalty of death for he was 
regarded as having consented to the adultery committed. This 
law only applied to the wife who had been received by the husband 
after negotiations with her relatives followed by the celebration of 
a wedding, during which the bride and groom were anointed with 
a yellow pitch or wax named jahualit. The woman who had re- 
ceived a man without this ceremony was a concubine and not a 
wife and even if she committed adultery she was not punished. 

The person who stole ears of corn, squashes or beans, even 
though he were a child, was condemned to pay for each stolen ear 
or squash, a woollen blanket named quachtli. If he had no means of 
paying he incurred the penalty of death and his head was publicly 
pelted with stones as a warning to others. Adults who stole cloth- 
ing, feathers, stones or other articles of value incurred the death 
penalty if the stolen goods were not restituted. In the latter case 
the thief became a life-long slave. When an Indian man and wo- 
man, married according to the customary ceremonies, happened 
not to treat each other well and often quarrelled, the chieftain or 
elder of the quarter in which they lived, summoned them and in- 
quired what was the reason of their disagreement. If, being a 
regular wife, she complained that her husband did not provide her 
with necessaries, or that, instead of supporting himself by working 
in his corn-fields or farm he amused himself, this constituted a 
cause for separation, as was also the case when the wife was lazy 


TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP II 73 


and did not serve her husband. An equal division of property was 
made when a separation took place. 

The slave who escaped from his prison and made a public decla- 
ration that he had done so before the elder of his quarter, was ac- 
quitted of his imprisonment and set free by said elder. If war 
captives, while being led to the temple to be sacrificed to the idol, 
were by chance able to escape and reach the summit of the pyramid 
where the idol was, and get behind this, he was acquitted of said 
death and sacrifice. 

The inhabitants of Teotihuacan used to carry on warfare with 
the people of Huejotzinco and Atlixco and used to fight with bows, 
arrows and wooden sabres edged with sharp obsidian points (ma- 
cana). The usual costume of the chieftains in time of peace con- 
sisted of a mantle of fine agave fibre, a loin cloth and sandals. In 
war time the chieftains and others who had distinguished them- 
selves in warfare wore a cotton armor and various devices; some 
disguised themselves as herons, or ducks, or eagles. Others dis- 
guised themselves by wearing the skins of pumas, jaguars, wolves 
(coyotes), deer or other animals. The common Indians only car- 
ried bows and arrows and wore no device whatsoever. They went 
naked excepting for a loin cloth and coarse mantle of agave fibre. 
Nowadays they all wear cloaks, cotton shirts and trousers; they 
sleep on beds and cover themselves with woolen blankets. They 
eat good food, boiled maize, domestic and wild fowl, beef and 
mutton. 

In ancient times most of them sustained life on the boiled leaves 
of the cactus and agave, or roots, or mice, snakes and other reptiles, 
and were healthier because of this and because they were more 
accustomed to exercise and hard work than nowadays. The 
natives realize that the luxury they now live in and the little work 
they do is the cause of illness, because they now fall ill whenever 
they make any exertion, especially on account of the pulque which 
they are accustomed to drink from childhood and which does them 
much harm. 

QUESTION XVI 


It is to be stated, about all towns of Spaniards or Indians, 
whether it is situated in a mountain, valley or open plain, and the 
name of the mountain or valley. The district is to be recorded with 
the meaning of everything in the native tongue. 


74 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


TEQUIZISTLAN 


This town is situated in a plain, among canals and close to the 
lagoon. Towards the North it is open on all sides but there is a 
small mountain there which is named Tlahuilquitl because the 
natives say that in ancient times they saw fire come out of said 
mountain and that it illuminated a great part of the country; 
therefore they call it the ‘‘mountain of light.’”’ 1 To the Northwest 
there is another large mountain within its boundaries. It is named 
Yelocotl because it has plentiful game, so the Viceroys of this New 
Spain have used it as a hunting ground. 


TEPECHPAN 


The town is situated in a plain at the base of a rough hill and is 
open to all sides. Near it, at a distance of a quarter of a league, in 
the confines of Texcoco, there is a medium-sized, round hill which 
is named Tlahuilquitl, thus named because the natives say that in 
said hill there used to be fire which gave light at night; therefore 
they named it ‘the mountain of light.” 


ACOLMAN 


Acolman is situated at the foot of a hill, in a plain open to all 
sides. At a distance of about half a league there is a mountain 
named Tlahuilquitl and another big mountain named Yelocotl. 
The meaning of these names is given in the descriptions of Tequi- 
zistlan and Tepechpan. 


TEOTIHUACAN 


This town is situated in a vast plain wherein there are many 
springs, as has been declared above. 


QUESTION XVII 


State whether the town is situated in a healthful or unhealthful 
place and if unhealthful the cause for this, also the kinds of illnesses 
that are prevalent and the remedies employed for curing them. 


1 [t is interesting and important to learn that, within the memory of man, a small volcano 
in this vicinity was still active. Compare with the evidence presented in note 1, p. 53, tending 
to prove that the name ‘“‘ Tenan”’ was given to the large volcano in the same region while it 

77 


was periodically active. The name “ Yelocotl’’ may be derived from ‘‘ Yeloa’? = a crowded 
place, or “‘ Yeltia’’ =to flee or cause to flee. 


TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP II 75 


TEQUIZISTLAN 


The situation of this town is unhealthful on account of being very 
damp. Its inhabitants suffer from fever and cure themselves with 
nettles and a kind of lily, which afford them some relief. 


TEPECHPAN 


The situation is healthful. The usual illness is fever which pro- 
ceeds from their working in their seed lands. They cure themselves 
with cooling things. Those that are to die only live eight days. 


ACOLMAN 


It is a place of medium healthfulness and has bad night dews. 
The prevalent illness among the Indians is headache which they 
cure with cooling herbs. 


TEOTIHUACAN 


It is a healthful region although the natives sometimes suffer 
from headache and fever, which maladies they cure with herbs and 
roots of cooling qualities. 


QUESTION XVIII! 


How far or near is any remarkable mountain or mountain range: 
in what direction does it lie and how is it called? - 


QUESTION XIX 


State what principal river or rivers pass close to the town; at 
what distance they do so; how abundant they are and whether 
there is anything remarkable about their sources, their water, its 
water-supply and the land it irrigates, also whether it is employed 
or could be employed for irrigation on an important scale. 


QUESTION XX 


Cite the remarkable lakes, lagoons and fountains and any notable 
things there may be in the district of the towns. 


1 As the answers to Questions X VIII to X XI, and from XXIII to X XVII, are either omitted 
or scant, these questions are grouped together. 
‘In the case of Question XXXII and others to which no answers are given, the questions 
are printed as being interesting in themselves and completing the questionnaire. 


76 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


QUESTION XXI 


Mention the volcanoes, caves and all other remarkable and ad- 
mirable works of nature there may be in the district, which are 
worthy of being known. 


TEQUIZISTLAN 


At the East of this town the river named San Juan passes in a 
deep canal at a distance of two arquebuss shots and it irrigates 
nearly half a league. 


TEPECHPAN 


To the East of the town at a distance of half a long league, at the 
confines of Texcoco, is a range of mountains, the names of which 
are not given as they are not very noteworthy. There is no river 
or fountain, only the river of San Juan passes through the town, 
dividing into two canals which irrigate the land of said town for a 
distance of half a league. | 


ACOLMAN 


The river named San Juan passes through the town of Acolman, 
dividing into four canals, each conveying the measure of two oxen 
of water and irrigating nearly a league of land. 


TEOTIHUACAN 


Towards the North les a big mountain which the natives name. 
Tenan and it has given birth to many other mountains. On the 
eastern slope of the aforesaid mountain, about half way up, is a 
chasm in which one hears a great noise which appears to proceed 
from the interior, at a distance of twenty yards. This seems to be 
the noise of the water which descends from the said mountain. 
The natives are convinced that it is water, because in the whole 
plain that extends between the town of San Juan and the confines 
of Texcoco there is no river nor spring other than the one at the 
head of the town of San Juan which the natives associate with the 
water which makes a noise in the mountain. 

In said plain, for a circumference of a league, between the head 
of the town of San Juan and Otumba, there are many large and 
small caves, some as extensive underground as an arquebus shot. 
From these they extract the saltpeter with which gun powder is 


TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP II 77 


made in His Majesty’s Munition House in the City of Mexico. 
Thirty Indians are usually employed every week in extracting said 
saltpeter and the train of mules which conveys it to the City of 
Mexico is famous. 


QUESTION XXII 


Describe the native trees that commonly grow wild in said dis- 
trict, and the profit gained from their fruits and wood. State 
what they are or might be good for. 


QUESTION XXIII 


Mention whether the cultivated trees and fruit trees in the 
district brought there from Spain or elsewhere do well or not. 


QUESTION XXIV 


Mention the grain and seeds and other plants and vegetables 
which have served or serve as food for the natives. 


QUESTION XXV 


State what plants have been introduced there from Spain and 
whether wheat, barley, wine and the olive flourish; in what quantity 
they are harvested and whether there are silk-worms or cochineal 
in the district and in what quantities. 


QUESTION XXVI 


Mention the herbs or aromatic plants with which the Indians 
cure themselves and their medicinal or poisonous qualities. 


QUESTION XXVII 


Describe the native animals, birds of prey and domestic fowl 
and those introduced from Spain and state how they breed and 
multiply. 

TEQUIZISTLAN 
They have trees of the native cherry and a quantity of agave 


plants which yield sweet juice and fibre. When cooked the leaves 
furnish food and when dried supply fuel. They have no other 


78 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


fruit trees, for the earth contains saltpeter and they could not grow. 
The seeds they sow are maize, chia, huauhtli, and beans, also some 
wheat, about fifty fanegas [bushels] more or less. They breed 
dogs from Spain and some native ones which multiply. Of the 
wild native animals there are coyotes, and some hares and rabbits. 


TEPECHPAN 


Within the confines of this town there are some quince and peach 
trees and some native cherry trees. In one of the dependencies 
named Maquizco they grow a quantity of pear, peach and quince 
trees which give fruit at Christmas. Throughout the whole dis- 
trict there grow quantities of agaves which yield sweet juice and 
fuel. The natives cultivate and gather for their food maize, beans, 
squashes, peppers, chia, and huauhtli. Of Spanish vegetables they 
have lettuce, radishes, onions and parsley. They have wheat 
which, although the quantity is small, serves as provision for the 
natives. ‘They have raised quantities of dogs of those brought 
from Spain and a few of the native ones. Of wild animals there are 
coyotes. 


ACOLMAN 


They have a quantity of the native cherry tree which produce 
much good fruit. They have walnut, pear, and quince trees and 
vines in the orchard of the monastery of this town. Of agave and 
cactus plants, which are the principal food of the natives, there is 
anabundance. They cultivate maize, beans, chia, and huauhilt, on 
which they live. They have no other vegetables out of careless- 
ness, for they would grow well in this district. They cultivate 
wheat with and without irrigation, and it does very well, but they 
only sow a small quantity. 


TEOTIHUACAN 


They have an abundance of the native cherries, of the edible 
cacti and agaves which sustain them, and which they sell in the 
neighboring towns. In said town and its confines they harvest 
much maize, beans, huawhili, and chia for their maintenance. They 
also raise some Spanish vegetables. The natives sow but little 
wheat although what is raised is very good. 


TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP II 19 


QUESTION XXX 


State whether there are salt works in or near said town and from 
where they get their supplies of salt and of all other things they 
need for sustenance and clothing. 


TEQUIZISTLAN 


In ancient times they used to make salt in this town with which 
they provided the City of Mexico. For the past thirty-eight 
years they have given up doing so because the number of inhabi- 
tants have decreased and because the water of the lagoon has risen 
and covered the salt beds from which they extracted the salt. 


TEPECHPAN 


They lack salt and procure what they need from the City of 
Mexico or the town of San Cristobal Ecatepec or from Exqui- 
payaque, a dependency of Texcoco. For their clothing they pro- 
cure cotton from the estate of the Marques del Valle. 


ACOLMAN 


The salt they use is brought from the towns of Tequizistlan and 
Acatepec and Mexico; the cotton which they use for clothing 
themselves is brought from the land of the Marques del Valle and 
from the mountain of Meztitlan. 


TEOTIHUACAN 


There are no salt beds in said town or its dependencies, so all 
that is consumed there is brought from the City of Mexico, from 
the town of San Cristobal or from the mountain range of Meztitlan 
and the hot lands. The cotton they use for clothing is brought 
from the region of Panuco. 


QUESTION XXXI 


Describe the form and construction of their houses and the ma- 
terials for building them that are found in the towns or the other 
places from which they are brought. 


TEQUIZISTLAN 


The houses and constructions in which they live are generally 
built with stone foundations and adobe walls covered with flat 


80 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


roofs. Thestone needed for building is to be had in the neighbor- 
hood. The timber required is brought from the woodland of Tex- 
coco, distant four leagues. 


TEPECHPAN 


All of the houses in this town and its dependencies are generally 
built with stone foundations, adobe walls and flat roofs. 


ACOLMAN 


All of their houses and structures have stone foundations, adobe 
walls and flat roofs. They have an abundance of stone. 


TEOTIHUACAN 


All the inhabitants of this town and its dependencies live in 
houses built of stone and adobe, with flat roofs. The houses of the 
principal personages are curiously and elaborately constructed.! 


QUESTION XXXII 


Describe the fortresses in said towns and the strongholds there 
are in their vicinity and within their confines. 


QUESTION XXXIII 


Describe the trade and traffic and dealings with which the 
Spanish and native inhabitants of the town support themselves 
and state with what produce and how they pay their tributes. 


TEQUIZISTLAN 


The Indians live by farming. They have the custom of buying 
cotton brought from the Marques del Valle and of this they spin 
and weave skirts and mantles (mantas) with designs, that they 
sell. The natives of Acaltecoya, subordinate to Tequizistlan, deal 
in fish and game birds and pay their tribute with these. 


1 In a document dated 1563 mention is made of the great palaces then occupied by Alonso 
Bazan, a descendant of the Kings of Texcoco, who was the native lord and encomendero of 
Teotihuacan. 


TO HIS MAJESTY, PHILIP II 81 


TEPECHPAN 


The inhabitants of this town live by cultivating their lands and 
raising hens and have no other trade or dealings. They pay their 
tribute to their Encomendero in agaves, money and maize as is 
generally done by the other towns in New Spain. 


ACOLMAN 


The inhabitants live by farming and raising hens and have no 
other trade or dealings. With their profits and the sweet juice of the 
agave, they pay their tribute in money and in maize. 


TEOTIHUACAN 


The natives incline to farming and its produce is their principal 
means of support. They raise Spanish and native fowl for nourish- 
ment and have no other trade. 


QUESTION XXXIV : 


State the diocese of the archbishopric or bishopric or abbey to 
which the town belongs; the district in which it is situated and 
its distance in leagues. State in what direction from it lies the 
cathedral town and the capital of the district and whether the 
leagues are long or short; the roads straight or winding and the 
country flat or rough. 


QUESTION XXXV 


Mention the cathedral or parish church or churches in each town 
with the number of beneficiaries and prebends in each; if the town 
contains any chapel or noteworthy endowment, state whose it is 
and who was its founder. 


QUESTION XXXVI 


Mention the monasteries of friars and convents of nuns of each 
order there may be in each town; when and by whom they were 
founded and the number of friars and nuns therein. Mention also 
anything noteworthy there may be in the towns. 


82 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


QUESTION XXXVII 


Mention also the hospitals, colleges and pious institutions there 
may be in said towns and by whom and when they were instituted. 


TEQUIZISTLAN 


This town belongs to the diocese and archbishopric of the City 
of Mexico which lies to its Southwest at a distance of five leagues 
of level country. The boundary of the district of Tequizistlan lies 
to the North of the City of Mexico at a distance of a quarter of a 
league. 


TEPECHPAN 


Tepechpan pertains to the diocese and archbishopric of Mexico 
and lies in the district of the town of Tequizistlan, a quarter of a 
league to its North, and five leagues from the City of Mexico, 
wherein the cathedral stands. 


° ACOLMAN 


The town belongs to the archbishopric of the City of Mexico 
where the cathedral of the diocese stands, at a distance of five long 
leagues of level country. In Acolman there is a monastery of 
friars of the order of Saint Augustine, in which there is a school 
in which grammar is taught. ‘Twenty-four monks reside therein 
and five priests for the administration of religious doctrine to the 
natives. They have a very grand church with a vaulted ceiling 
and a very sumptuous portal of carved stone; also a good orchard 
within the monastery walls, in which they gather quantities of 
Spanish walnuts and cherries, of native cherries and plums. This 
monastery was founded in 1539, the provincial of the order of Saint 
Augustine being the reverend father Friar George Davila. 


TEOTIHUCAN 


The town of San Juan and its dependencies pertain to the diocese 
and bishopric of the City of Mexico and is two leagues distant 
from Tequizistlan, the headquarters of the Corregidor. In San 
Juan there is a monastery of Franciscan friars who administer the 
doctrine to the natives. They have a good church and fair house 
in which three priests and a lay brother generally reside. ‘The 


TO Ris VAs os DY; ePHiciP If 83 


monastery was founded in 1566, the provincial of the Franciscan 
order being Friar Miguel Navarro and the guardian of said town 
Friar Francisco Perez. 


PARAGRAPH L 


And after the said description has been written down, it is to be 
signed by the persons who helped to make it. It is to be sent 
without delay with this instruction, to the person who may have 
forwarded it. 

TEQUIZISTLAN 


The description of this town was written therein on the twenty- 
second of February, 1580, and was signed by the Corregidor Fran- 
cisco de Castafieda and those who knew how to write, namely 
Juan de Vera, Antonio de San Francisco. ................ [an illegible name 
followed by the word fiscal, that is prior or censurer]. 

BEniTO Martinez, clerk. 


TEPECHPAN 


Description written in the town of Tepechpan on the twenty- 
third of February, 1580, and signed by the Corregidor Francisco 
de Castafieda, and those who could sign: Juan de Vera; Don An- 
tonio de Herrera; Rodrigo de Sandoval. 

Benito Martinez, clerk. 


ACOLMAN 


The description of the town of Acolman, under the encomienda 
of Francisco de Solis, citizen of Mexico City, was written in said 
town on the twenty-sixth of February, 1580, those present while 
it was being drawn up being: the Corregidor Francisco de Cas- 
tafieda, Benito Martinez, Alonso de Solis, Francisco de Miranda, 
and Juan de Vera, Spaniards; Don Diego Vazquez, Governor, 
Don Guillermo de San Francisco, Alcalde, Lucas de Molina, Don 
Cristobal de Santiago, Pablo Zihuatecpanecatl, Regidors; Don 
Juan Bautista, Diego Atecpanecatl, and Antonio de Santiago, 
chieftains and natives of said town.! 


1 The above entry appears as a superscription to the report from Acolman and the signatures 
follow separately at the end. 


84 OFFICIAL REPORTS 


Signed by the Corregidor Francisco de Castafieda and those 
present who could write, who were Juan de Vera; Guillermo de 
San Francisco, Alealde; Diego Vazquez, Governor. 

Benito Martinez, clerk. 


TEOTIHUACAN 


The description of the town of San Juan Teotihuacan, under 
the charge or encomienda of Don Antonio Bagan, Chief Alguazil 
of the Holy Office of the Inquisition,! was written in said town on 
the first of March, 1580, there being present Don Cristobal Pimen- 
tel and Luis de San Miguel, Alealdes; Antonio de San Francisco, 
Mateo Juarez, and Antonio de los Angeles, Regidores; Andres 
Dalbiz, Don Lorengo and Francisco Quaunochtli, chief Indians of 
said town; Alonso de Servantes and Juan de Vera, Spaniards. It 
was translated by Francisco de Miranda; interpreted and signed 
by the Corregidor and those who knew how to write: Francisco 
de Castafieda, Andres Dalbiz, Damian Bravo, Gabriel de la Cruz, 
Francisco de Miranda. 

Benito Martinez, clerk. 


1 It is deeply significant and illuminating to find that absolute authority, civil and ecclesi- 
astical, was wielded in Teotihuacan, the ancient religious centre, by Don Antonio Bacan, who, 
like his brother Don Francisco before him, was an Inquisitor of high rank, being Chief Con- 
stable of the Holy Office. There can be no doubt that much of the destruction and covering 
up of the ancient monuments in Teotihuacan must be attributed to the Inquisition, whose 
officers systematically and ruthlessly carried out the policy of exterminating idolatry, initiated 
by Cortés and Bishop Zummaraga, a task in which they were enthusiastically aided by the 
native Catholic neophytes. 


Praspopy Museum PAPERS 





Map of Tequizistlan, Tepechpan, Acolman, and San Juan Teotihuacan 


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